The F-35 isn't the fighter I'd have designed or approved for use by the armed services, but the Pentagon and the past three Administrations have wanted the thing so I guess we're stuck with it.

Personally, I think the F-22 Raptor is much better and I'm still a big fan of the different variants of the F-15 and F-16, but I guess the F-35 serves its purpose. I just hope the thing doesn't ever have to have its ass handed to it by an Su-35 or a similar Eastern Bloc fighter because the thing's been overengineered and underarmed.

My guess: probably not, but we here in the West and in the U.S. in particular love to design planes that have 8 million of the world's most cutting edge and sensitive computer components in the cockpits and go into combat with just five missiles and/or guided bombs.

Me too. The Navy has hundreds of those babies, including the latest and most powerful version: the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. I'd put the Super Hornet up against the best the Russians and Chinese can manufacture and I think it'd more than hold its own even if the other planes are faster or bigger.

Boeing and the Navy are talking Super Duper Hornets, I guess Boeing is working on upgrades. I'm too lazy to find it in Aviation Weekly but there is an article that's a couple weeks old talking about it.

The F-35 isn't the fighter I'd have designed or approved for use by the armed services, but the Pentagon and the past three Administrations have wanted the thing so I guess we're stuck with it.

Personally, I think the F-22 Raptor is much better and I'm still a big fan of the different variants of the F-15 and F-16, but I guess the F-35 serves its purpose. I just hope the thing doesn't ever have to have its ass handed to it by an Su-35 or a similar Eastern Bloc fighter because the thing's been overengineered and underarmed.

My guess: probably not, but we here in the West and in the U.S. in particular love to design planes that have 8 million of the world's most cutting edge and sensitive computer components in the cockpits and go into combat with just five missiles and/or guided bombs.

Click to expand...

I've always thought Boeing's prototype for the JSF was the superior aircraft. Lockheed had the superior lobby.

And if I could afford a new monitor, I'd get one. In the meantime, old faithful gets the job done.

Click to expand...

Oh, I understand. I was playing. Do you honestly think I would be considered one of the cool kids? Nah. Not my style.

I used a CRT up until about 4 years ago, when I got a great deal on an LCD. A friend of mine used his CRT (19") up until last year, when I brought a trashed LCD back to life, and now he uses that. Use what works, as long as you can!

Me being me, I had to go right off and search to figure out what kind of guitar that was, rather than simply scrolling down. Not quite a Jaguar, but not a Jazzmaster either, hmmm...

Click to expand...

Another popular hybrid is the Telemaster (or Jazzcaster, depending on who you ask). Fender only ever made one run of them as a Custom Shop thing, but a few companies copied the style. Like this. It's also a body option at online guitar builders like Warmoth.

Me being me, I had to go right off and search to figure out what kind of guitar that was, rather than simply scrolling down. Not quite a Jaguar, but not a Jazzmaster either, hmmm...

Click to expand...

Another popular hybrid is the Telemaster (or Jazzcaster, depending on who you ask). Fender only ever made one run of them as a Custom Shop thing, but a few companies copied the style. Like this. It's also a body option at online guitar builders like Warmoth.

Click to expand...

Both of those look like fun. I've been spotting quite a few hybrids in various vids I've looked at recently. Or some hybrids and some very weird Frankenstein assemblages where I can't conclusively identify all of the bits involved. Thurston Moore had a couple of funny ones, and someone posted a clip of some L.A. band I wasn't familiar with and I never did figure out what their guy was playing.